THE Philippine National Police (PNP) high command has alerted all police units nationwide against threat groups including terrorist and criminal elements that may take advantage of the forthcoming traditional nationwide observance of All Saints’ Day.

On orders of PNP chief, Director General Jesus Verzosa, the entire PNP will be placed on nationwide “Heightened Alert” to ensure the availability of police units and personnel to perform police duties and respond to contingencies.

All Police Regional Offices were directed to undertake special security measures during the long weekend holiday when people are expected to troop to public cemeteries and memorial parks to honor the dead.

Verzosa issued Letter of Instruction 68/09 prescribing the operational guidelines on security coverage, public safety measures, contingency plans and other support services to be provided by the PNP during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Police Regional Offices and the Traffic Management Group in the Luzon area were directed to establish Public Assistance Centers along highways and main thoroughfares leading to the provinces in the North and South in anticipation of the heavy volume of vehicle and commuter traffic to and from Metro Manila.
In Metro Manila, police districts were instructed to provide security and insure order in land transportation terminals.

The Maritime Group and Aviation Security Group, on the other hand, were tasked to implement special security measures in seaports and airports, respectively.

At the same time, all Police Regional Offices were alerted against possible hostile actions by the domestic threat groups on vital installations such as power generation, telecommunication facilities and critical infrastructures.

Police units in urban centers were also directed to maintain police visibility in congested areas and convergence points to deter criminal and terrorist elements from taking advantage of the situation.
These include preventive patrol and police visibility operations in residential areas, in coordination with local governments as a deterrent against thieves and robbers who prey on unattended residences.

Residents in the urban centers are advised, if possible, not to leave their homes unattended, and to coordinate with barangay and neighborhood authorities to provide security to unattended residences.

Consistent with existing laws and local ordinances, Verzosa said, police should observe prohibition in public cemeteries and memorial parks activities like carrying of firearms, explosives and deadly weapons; alcohol and drugs; gambling activities; loud and boisterous forms of entertainment, like videoke, stereo and the likes.

Anybody found violating the law should be apprehended immediately and appropriate charges must be filed against them.

Sammy Martin